Theatre Royal Plymouth’s brand-new production of NHS The Musical by Nick Stimson and Jimmy Jewell, directed by Stephen Fletcher, will run 17 – 25 September in The Lyric at Theatre Royal Plymouth. Tickets are on public sale now, with discounted tickets available across the run for NHS staff.
Informed by first-hand accounts from local NHS staff, NHS The Musical gets under its skin, and celebrates the people who make its heart beat. Sharper than a scalpel, this fast-paced comedy show takes you from the surgical theatre to musical theatre, pumping with songs, satire, sass – and gas and air. But beware! This beloved institution may be the perfect tonic, but it can also be the bitterest pill. The UK’s largest employer and government’s biggest spender has its own ailments, that just never seem to be cured.
With a combined company of 7 cast and 7 band members live on stage, NHS The Musical will be a rousing celebration of the people who have looked after us and our families for more than 70 years.
Of his last own production at TRP, Adrian Vinken, CEO of Theatre Royal Plymouth and Executive Producer of NHS The Musical, said: “We commissioned the original show to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the health service. Although essentially a love song to the NHS, audiences really loved its hard-hitting satire. A couple of years ago, with the NHS under siege on many levels, we decided the time was right to update the show to reflect current circumstances but then Covid hit and the NHS was placed front and centre in the life of the whole nation. The show is a timely celebration of what the NHS means to all of us.”
“We feel so lucky to have secured such a talented ensemble cast for NHS The Musical. Even in the auditions, they brought the show’s comedy and satire to life and reminded me just how fabulous the music and songs are. I can’t wait to see how they develop the show with Stephen as we build to the premiere next week.”
Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation, commented, “The Weston Culture Fund honours the UK’s creative and cultural organisations which, while battling huge challenges of their own, endeavour to make life better for the rest of us. We’re therefore especially pleased to support this new production of NHS The Musical at the Theatre Royal Plymouth, as it pays tribute to the heroes seeing us all through the pandemic.”
NHS The Musical is made possible thanks to a grant from the Weston Culture Fund.
Nick Stimson is a freelance playwright and theatre director. His theatre credits as a writer and director include A Winter’s Tale (Rose Theatre/UK tour – Offie Award for Best Off West End Musical), Sailors and Sweethearts (Theatre Royal Plymouth/The Venue), Korczak (Theatre Royal Plymouth/Rose Theatre Kingston/International tour) and The Day We Played Brazil (Exeter Northcott Theatre). His writing credits include Hello Mister Capello (Watford Palace Theatre), Promised Land (Red Ladder Theatre/The Carriage Works), Who Ate All The Pies? (Tristan Bates Theatre) and This Land (Theatre Royal Plymouth).
Jimmy Jewell is a composer and songwriter. His credits as composer include The Amazing Tour is Not On Fire (UK tour/international tour), The Tempest (Exeter Northcott Theatre), Peter Pan (UK tour), Walk With The Angels (Institute of Contemporary Arts/Soho Theatre), Theatre), Frankenstein (Cochrane Theatre), Who Ate All The Pies? (Theatre Royal Plymouth, Tristan Bates Theatre),and Solitary Confinement (King’s Head Theatre); and as a conductor, Evita (European tour), The Prince and the Pauper, Strike Up The Band!, Jesus Christ Super Star (US tour), All You Need is Love! (Queen’s Theatre) and Fiddler on the Roof (Exeter Northcott Theatre).
Stephen Fletcher directs. His directing credits include A Life in the Theatre (The Actor’s Studio, Liverpool – also writer) and Mam! I’m ‘ere! (Royal Court Liverpool – also writer). He is Director and Producer of Life in Theatre Productions, producing, The Sunshine Boys and The Last 5 Years. As an actor his credits include The Perfect Murder (UK tour), Special Measures, Noises Off! (Royal Court Liverpool), A Streetcar Named Desire (Liverpool Playhouse), Dead Heavy Fantastic (Liverpool Everyman) and Mary Stuart (Donmar Warehouse/Apollo Theatre).
Theatre Royal Plymouth – The Lyric Theatre
Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR
17 – 25 September 2021
Press Night: Friday 17 September
Box Office
www.theatreroyal.com / 01752 267222
Tickets
General: From £18
NHS discount: £15 (Bands A, B and C)
